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Social media companies must be regulated to stop them damaging young people's mental health, according to the Royal College of Psychiatrists.

Self-regulation by the industry is not working and children are being exposed to harmful online environments, Dr Louise Theodosiou, member of the Child and Adolescent Faculty at the RCP told The Telegraph.

It comes after this newspaper launched the Duty of Care campaign calling on ministers to make social media and online gaming companies subject to a statutory duty to protect children from harms such as addiction, bullying and grooming when using their services.

Ministers are considering new measures to rein in the worst excesses of online tech companies amid fears a generation of young people is being harmed by unregulated use of social media and online gaming platforms.

“Self-regulation has failed and legislation needs to be introduced”, said Dr Theodosiou.

“We [the RCP] do want there to be restrictions on content. Where there are age restrictions on opening an account or viewing content - we absolutely want that guidance to be followed”, she said.